R 102133Z SEP 10
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 032/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/3D MARINE DIVISION ANNIVERSARY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO CONGRATULATE THE MARINES AND SAILORS OF THE 3D MARINE DIVISION ON YOUR 68TH ANNIVERSARY.
2.  ACTIVATED ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1942, AT CAMP ELLIOTT, CALIFORNIA, THE 3D MARINE DIVISION PROVED ITS METTLE DURING WORLD WAR II IN THE HARD-FOUGHT CAMPAIGNS OF BOUGAINVILLE, GUAM, AND IWO JIMA.  ALTHOUGH DEACTIVATED AT THE END OF THE WAR, 3D MARINE DIVISION WAS REACTIVATED IN 1952 AT CAMP PENDLETON.  THE "FIGHTIN' THIRD" WOULD SEE ACTION IN VIETNAM, AND AGAIN IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.  THE READINESS AND VERSATILITY OF THE DIVISION WOULD BE FURTHER DEMONSTRATED WHILE SUPPORTING THE NUMEROUS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC.
3.  AS YOU CELEBRATE YOUR RICH HERITAGE, PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER YOUR FELLOW MARINES WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.  MARINES AROUND THE WORLD JOIN ME IN HONORING YOUR DEVOTED SERVICE TO OUR NATION, AND CONGRATULATING YOU ON THIS HISTORIC DAY.
4.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//